Did you go over your budget at that music festival? That doesn't mean you can't have any fun this week. There are not one, but two beer-related events this Saturday, plus an art exhibit that explores Afrofuturism. As always, check out other events on Phoenix New Times' event calendar.

Now up at Modified Arts.

Jasilyn Anderson

If youve heard the term Afrofuturism and wondered what its all about, make your way to Modified Arts, 407 East Roosevelt Street. Thats where the artist and curator Merryn Alaka is exploring Afrocentrism through the eyes of several creatives who take vastly different approaches to examining blackness outside of the bounds of Western stereotypes. The Oracles of the Other exhibit features seven artists who repurpose the past to tell stories about ambivalent futures. They use diverse mediums to reflect on the past, present, and future of the black diaspora including textiles, paintings, photography, and mixed media. You can explore their work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, March 9. Lynn Trimble

A drink to the bride and groom.

Benjamin Leatherman

Picture this scene: a chaotic mass of men and women dressed in wedding gowns engaging in drunken antics, including singalongs, footraces, and playful banter. Is this a scene from the latest reality TV shitshow? Nope. Just a sample of the nuptial-themed bar crawl known as The Brides of March.

The annual event, organized by the Arizona Cacophony Society, sees males and females alike donning wedding regalia and touring the bars of midtown and downtown Phoenix. It pokes fun of bridal culture, and (like most Cacophony Society events) is an excuse to drink heavily.

Brides of March 2020 starts at noon on Saturday, March 14, when participants will gather at Charlies, 727 West Camelback Road, before boarding the light rail bound for other nearby bars. Its free to join in the fun, although youll have to pay for the drinks and dress. Benjamin Leatherman

Tap into Mesa brews this weekend.

Maybe its been a while since youve been the main drag in Mesa. The Downtown Mesa Brew Fest is a perfect excuse to swing back that way so you can see all the ways it has evolved. Head to 1 North MacDonald Road on Saturday, March 14, if you want to explore Mesas emerging brewery scene, sample the food truck offerings, enjoy relaxing game time, and hear some live local music.

The festival runs from 1 to 6 p.m. Its free, but tickets for 12-ounce pours are $5 each (cash only). Expect nonalcoholic drink options, too. The music lineup includes Jacob Morris, Some Dark Hollow, and Kyle Phelan, plus DJ My God Complex. While youre there, scope the local art offerings from sculptures to murals. Lynn Trimble

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The Best Free Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Week - Phoenix New Times

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You know the drill by now -- wash your hands with hot water and soap for twenty seconds -- the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. But if you find that timeless classic a little boring and you're looking for another song to sing while you scrub, I've got a good list.

The Canadian news site The National Post has listened to a lot of popular music with a stopwatch running, and they've discovered that the choruses of these songs each last the magical twenty seconds. So if you know the words, try the chorus to Toto's "Africa."

Or channel your inner Stevie Nicks while you're singing the chorus to "Landslide."

The full list of songs with twenty-second choruses:

Or, let's face it -- you could just count "One one thousand,two one thousand . . . . "

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Songs to sing while washing your hands | 94.1 The Sound Relaxing Favorites of Seattle - Talk Radio 1210 WPHT

The Romanian Capital is a vibrant and complex city, with an interesting history and a rich tourist offer. There are many things to see and do in Bucharest throughout the year and some destinations and activities should definitely be on any visitor's list. Among them, the giant Palace of the Parliament, the Old Town or the main central avenue, but also events that transform the city for a few days.

Visit the Palace of the Parliament

A giant building standing right in the center of the city, the Palace of the Parliament is probably the most famous tourist destination in Bucharest. This is not surprising, however, as the buildings history and size attract a large number of curious visitors every year.

The Parliament Palace is the most famous legacy of the communist rule in Bucharest, being built by the wish of former dictator Nicolae Ceauescu.

This ambitious project required a major human and financial effort: tens of thousands of people worked for years in harsh conditions and at a fast pace. Today, the imposing halls and rooms of the heaviest building in the world have many stories to tell.

Discover the Old Town

Another top destination in Bucharest is, of course, the historical center. With lots of old buildings housing restaurants, pubs, clubs or small souvenir shops, the Old Town is one of the busiest areas of the city, a meeting point for both Bucharesters and tourists. In fact, many of the Capitals visitors stop at least once in this area during their vacation in Bucharest.

Cobbled streets wind around the old buildings (most of them historical monuments), connecting the many terraces and restaurants, but also tourist attractions such as the Old Princely Court, the Stavropoleos and Sfntul Anton churches or Manuc's Inn.

Another interesting place is the Macca-Villacrosse Passage, which today houses several cafes and bars. The passage, covered with yellow glass, is a good place for a short break in a relaxing, intimate atmosphere.

The Crtureti Carusel bookstore, which is considered the most spectacular such location in Romania, is also worth a visit.

Find the museums secrets

Bucharest is home to dozens of museums and memorial houses, all ready to provide visitors with impressive and surprising information and collections. The most popular are the "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History (where even the kids have fun), the Romanian Peasant Museum and the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum (where visitors discover the traditions and life of the Romanian village), the National Museum of Art of Romania and the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the National History Museum of Romania, the Bucharest Municipality Museum and the Cotroceni National Museum.

But there are many other such places in the Capital that reward the visitors curiosity. Among them, the Storck Museum (where you can see complex works of sculpture or painting), the Museum of Recent Art, the "George Enescu" National Museum (which operates in one of the most impressive buildings of the Capital the Cantacuzino Palace), or Ferestroika (a small private museum that shows visitors how the Romanians were living during communism).

In addition, the Night of Museums cultural event will return with a new edition in May, giving the curious people the chance to visit their favorite museums even after dark. The exact date of this year's edition has not yet been announced, but usually the event is organized around May 18.

Stop at the Romanian Athenaeum

A symbol of the cultural life in Bucharest, the Romanian Athenaeum is one of the most important concert halls in Romania. It is an elegant building, more than 130 years old, with an architecture that combines the neoclassical style with the eclectic style. Built according to the plans of French architect Albert Galleron, the Romanian Athenaeum is today one of the main attractions of the Capital, home to the "George Enescu" Philharmonic.

Therefore, the Romanian Athenaeum should definitely be added to the list of places to visit in Bucharest, especially to that of classical music lovers. Part of the concerts of the George Enescu Festival (a world-renowned music event organized in honor of great Romanian composer George Enescu) are held in this impressive building. The festival is organized every two years and brings prestigious artists and orchestras to Romania. The next edition is scheduled for 2021.

Spend time in nature

For those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of a big city and enjoy nature for a few hours, the parks and gardens are the best alternatives. And Bucharest offers tourists a large number of green spaces for outdoor walks, the most popular being the large parks such as Cimigiu Garden (which is located right in the center of the city), Regele Mihai I (Herstru) Park, Tineretului Park, Carol I Park, Alexandru Ioan Cuza Park (also known as Titan Park or IOR), the National Park or Circului Park.

Green spaces with big lakes and alleys lined with colorful flowers and trees with rich crowns, these parks also offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy a tour around the lake in boats of different shapes and colors, picnics on the grass, games of tennis or volleyball, bike rides or relaxing lunches on the lakeshore.

Another place nature lovers should not miss is the Botanical Garden in the Cotroceni neighborhood. The garden is home to thousands of plant species, the entire space turning into an oasis of peacefulness and relaxation in the warm months.

In addition, another interesting place in the Capital is the Vcreti Nature Park the first natural urban park in Romania, which is home to many species of plants, animals and insects. The luckiest visitors can spot animals such as foxes or otters through the reeds or even on the parks trails, although the easiest to see and photograph are the birds, such as swans and ducks of different species.

Take a walk on Calea Victoriei

Bordered by buildings and old houses with a unique architecture, but also by luxury shops or hotels, Calea Victoriei is one of the oldest and most important arteries of the Capital. Even locals go on this boulevard in their spare time, on foot or by bike.

Calea Victoriei can be a good starting point for tourists who want to discover some of the city's secrets. The main attractions include the Filipescu-Cesianu House, the Cantacuzino Palace (which houses the "George Enescu" National Museum), the National Museum of Art of Romania and the Museum of Art Collections, Revoluiei Square and George Enescu Square (where the Romanian Athenaeum is also located), the Odeon Theater, the National Military Circle Palace, the CEC Palace and the National Museum of Romanian History.

Plus, in April, part of the boulevard comes to life with the help of artistic light and color installations, during one of the most impressive outdoor events in the city the International Light Festival (Spotlight). The theme of this year's edition, which is scheduled for April 23-26, is "Parallel worlds.

Visit churches that are hundreds of years old

Statistics say that the Romanians are the most religious in Europe and the large number of churches and monasteries in the country (and in Bucharest) comes to support these figures. The Capital is home to many churches, some of them centuries old and with a beautiful architecture, all waiting to be discovered by tourists.

Some of the most impressive places of worship in downtown Bucharest are the Stavropoleos Church and the Kretzulescu Church (both built in the Brncovenesc style), Sfntul Anton - Curtea Veche Church, Sfntul Elefterie Nou Church, Domnia Blaa Church and Colea Church.

Of course, the list also includes People's Salvation Cathedral, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world. The cathedral was consecrated in 2018 the Centennial Year, but the project has not been completed yet. In 2019, Pope Francis visited the National Cathedral during his three-day visit to Romania.

Explore the bookstores

In the age of Internet and gadgets, the bookstores are still popular among book lovers (and not only), but the tourists can also go here to buy souvenirs for their loved ones or travel guides that are much needed when planning a vacation.

Dozens of bookstores, big or small, are spread throughout Bucharest. Probably the best known is Crtureti Carusel in the Old Town (mostly because of its interior design and the central location), but there are other such places not to be missed, such as Crtureti Verona (which is close to the Roman Square), the Humanitas, Librarium or Diverta bookstores, or the French bookstore Kyralina.

Dance in the clubs

Bucharest is a lively city, with many party people going out on weekend nights (and even on workday nights).

At the end of the week, the Old Town remains crowded even after the sun sets, as both the locals and the tourists go out in the many clubs, pubs or bars in this area. The music is for every taste from rock to electronic music or even music of oriental inspiration, with live bands or DJs being in charge of keeping the party alive. And those who feel like singing can try karaoke.

Other popular clubs in Bucharest are Control, Expirat, Fratelli or Kristal Glam Club.

Try the sightseeing buses

In the warm months, those who want to discover the city should try the Bucharest City Tour buses. Usually, the tourist line starts a new season in late May-early June, when the double-decker buses return to the Capitals streets, ready to take tourists to the largest squares of the city and to the most popular tourist attractions.

The travel cards are valid for 24 hours from the first validation, allowing travelers to hop on and off the bus anywhere on the route. Passengers also benefit from audio guides in Romanian, English or French.

The exact starting date for the 2020 season of the Bucharest City Tour line has not been announced yet, but more information will be made available on the official website Bucharestcitytour.stbsa.ro.

This material is part of a project under the program of promoting the touristic heritage "Destination: Bucharest", carried out by the Bucharest City Hall through the Public Monuments and Touristic Heritage Administration (AMPT).

Photos by Romania-Insider.com for AMPT.

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Destination: Bucharest 10 best things to do in Bucharest - Romania-Insider.com

Students who wish to de-stress from a difficult semester may be interested in attending one of the many wellness events that occur on campus.

Students filled the Harley multi-purpose room Feb. 25 from 6:30-8 p.m. for a night of tarot card readings, music, rock painting and more hosted by Shippensburg Universitys National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI).

Those who attended used the time to relieve anxiety they may have gained during the day. The executive board members wanted to provide a sense of relaxation for the students who attended.

I needed to create Instagram posts and stories for people to remember we were having it and to tell their friends, Dana Hoke, the public relations officer for NAMI said.

Hoke had high hopes for the event.

The people who attend will get to have a fun, relaxing night. Classes, work, internships, etc. can be so tiring and stressful and sometimes you need a night to just relax, Hoke said.

The executive board of NAMI said they planned this event with passion, care and hard work. The attending students smiled because of the calming air that filled the room.

Before I came to this event, I was having tons of anxiety and after the event, I was distracted and happy. I went to this event hoping to get relaxation out of this event and I got just that, student Abigail Heister said.

The event focused on having a calm, serene atmosphere so students could take a moment to take care of themselves after having a hard, anxiety-filled day.

Some of the attendees of NAMIs wellness event mentioned there is stigma on mental health and they felt it is good to surround themselves with people who truly understand what it is like to have a mental illness.

The wellness event helped spread awareness about mental health and allowed students to find those whom they can relate to.

I attended this event because I wanted to be a part of it [NAMI]. The stigma of mental illness really bothers me, so its nice to be in a room full of people who understand me, student Lizzie Ritter said.

Brianna Armour, president of NAMI, believes mental health is just as important as physical health.

I believe that we should all support each other in ending the stigma surrounding mental health issues, Armour said.

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Event spreads awareness about mental health - The Slate Online

No one does as good as Jennifer Lopez. The diva from the Bronx of 50 years does not cease to amaze us day in and day out, proves that is still one of the most beautiful women and most talented Hollywood.

As usual, it is in the rule, together with its 115 million followers on Instagram (the number increased exponentially after his brilliant performance in the Super Bowl 2020 strategy, in addition to the Colombian Shakira) material about their work, their training, their new songs and their alliances of fashionincluding the successful campaigns of the Coach, Guess, and Versace, to name just a few.

But in a recent posting, we saw a different side of JLo. Pad on the beach, listening to relaxing music; he made a video for his fans, where he from the bottom to the top, and ends up smiling in the camera while the sun towards them. Super natural and without make-up (just a little bit of golden shadow in the eyes, raised his gaze and soft lips), the singer wore Romper suit, white color, with a deep neckline and strips in the form of a network on the sides.

Her hair, directly a url of Chanel, and an impressive diamond ring also appeared in the video, which lasts only a few seconds, and proves that the glamour should not be lost, even if its a day at the beach. When you are finished, you can see a photo of her for the assessment of the outfit total, you have added a pair of sunglasses with glittering details at the sides and a wide hat color camel.

On the foot photo, Jennifer added: no one likes a cloudy day at the beach. As the video was already expected for 11 million views and thousands of comments like youre beautiful, you have a natural Shine, your smile is electric.

The future wife of the athlete Alex Rodriguez he was with the natural, and won in the networks. What is to repeat again the experience?

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Jennifer Lopez never showed: relaxing on the beach and face washed - Matzav Review

After having a computer study the speech patterns of an American President famed for his public speaking one naturally has it recite Palpatine?

Alan Watts would be more fun.

Disney is seeking an Admiral for their Galactic Starcruiser, Halcyon. That means theres an open position for general manager of the Star Wars theme hotel at Walt Disney World, Florida. From the Job Summary: Are you ready to command a Galactic Starcruiser, the Halcyon, where you will take passengers on an adventure to a galaxy []

Assembling LEGOs official Star Destroyer kit [Amazon] is no mean feat: it has nearly 4,800 pieces and retails for $700. But Matt Benner, aka TheBrickWiz, went 30,000 better, constructing a collossal Star Wars spaceship to put the fear of Vader into any rebel fool enough to fall into its gravity well. He even made the []

Marijuana legalization sweeps a galaxy far, far away? No! A new series set 200 years before the Jedi let shit fall apart.

For professional or personal purposes, your writing should make you look good. Easier said than done for manyyes, even those of us getting paid to write. Everyone needs an editor, as they say. Why not ensure you always have one, including in your pocket on your smartphone? Nail down your grammar, spelling, style, punctuation, and []

From outlines to lists to freeform scrawl that tumbles and twists its way across a page, everybodys got their own style for taking notes. That style often comes from years of scholastic and professional arenas, refining the process for retaining key information that works best for you. And, as you probably learned from borrowing your []

First off, we wanted to give you one last reminder that were holding on to an iPhone 11, a pair of AirPods and a Belkin wireless charging pad, all with your name on them. Theyre free and theyre just waiting for you to make a move. All youve gotta do is enter the iPhone []

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Computer generated JFK gives the 'Darth Plagueis the wise' speech - Boing Boing

Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi has sought a set of measures to improve road safety/engineering, sanitation and cleanliness on city roads.

Ms. Bedi, who led a team from Raj Nivas on a cycle tour to make an inspection on Sunday as part of weekend visits, directed officers for immediate action on marking the roads as per traffic rules including zebra crossing for pedestrians wherever required.

The Lt. Governor demanded that speedbreakers be painted to serve as indication to motorists. Other instructions include removing the debris and the tree breakages dumped either side of the road and clearing of drainage slabs taken from the drainage and kept on the road, causing a hindrance to traffic. Ms. Bedi has asked the officers of PWD and Municipality to take a daily round of their respective areas for maintaining road safety and cleanliness.

She was accompanied by Shurbir Singh, Secretary, Works, S.D. Sundaresan, Special Secretary to Lt. Governor, Rahul Alwal, SSP, Mahalingam, Chief Engineer, PWD, M. Kandasamy, Commissioner, Oulgaret Municipality, S. Sivakumar, Pondicherry Municipality, Sekar, Superintending Engineer, PWD and Bascarane, CGO and the Manager of Swachatha Corporation. A plan to convert the Raj Nivas gardens into a biodiversity hub in collaboration with Sri Aurobindo Ashram ecologists, was also initiated.

Ms. Bedi cut a cake and honoured the staff on the occasion.

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Take steps to improve road safety: Bedi - The Hindu

(Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with PR Newswire. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.) MHRD Minister Launched 35 State-wise Innovations Handbooks

NEW DELHI, March 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A National Conference and award ceremony was organised recently at Dogra Hall- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi by Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank to recognise the effective grassroot innovations in teaching.

Highlights of the Event

Shri. Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Honourable Minister, MHRD felicitated more than 1000 Teachers gathered from all that states and union territories of country

MHRD Minister launched 35 State-wise Innovations Handbooks consisting of best teaching practices and grassroot innovations

Shri. Prakash Javadekar, the Honourable Minister of Information & Broadcasting graced the event and motivated the teachers

Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj appreciated the mass-scale teacher outreach program 'Zero-Investment Innovations For Education Initiatives' (ZIIEI) of Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank Shri. Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Honourable Minister of State for HRD boosted the morale of the teachers and felicitated education officers Shri. Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Honourable Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises graced the occasion Shri. Anurag Thakur, Hon'ble Minister of State for Finance motivated the teachers at the event Shri Ram Madhav, National General Secretary, Bhartiya Janata Party applauded the teachers for their unique teaching innovations at grassroot level.

Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', honourable Human Resource Development (HRD) minister felicitated more than 1000 teachers from across the country for their unique zero-investment grassroot innovations in teaching.

The event, named as 'SHUNYA SE SASHAKTIKARAN- Empowering Through Zero' highlighted and promoted various zero-investment innovative ideas that are developed and being implemented by the school teachers in their respective schools. 35 state-wise Innovations Handbooks were also launched at the event. These handbooks document the most effective innovations by teachers of different states. The event was organised by Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank to acknowledge the best practices and innovative ideas of the school teachers on 01st and 02nd March 2020, at Dogra Hall- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.

Hon'ble Minister MHRD- Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Dr. Satbir Bedi Chairperson, NCTE, Ms. Ashima Bhat - Group Head, HDFC Bank, Shri. Ashish Goel - Divisional Commissioner Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Shri. Pradeep Narang - Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society, Shri. Vijay Poddar - Member Executive, Sri Aurobindo Society along with Shri Sambhrant Sharma- Director, Education, Sri Aurobindo Society felicitated 1,000 innovative teachers and launched 35 Innovation Handbooks.

Addressing the audience and media persons present at the event, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' emphasised on the need to empower the teachers to upgrade the education sector of the country. He also appreciated and acknowledged the efforts of Sri Aurobindo Society for their dedicated approach in this sector.

Speaking at the event, the Honourable MHRD minister, said, "I hope from next year we celebrate this day as Innovative Teacher's Day. I congratulate Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank for the commendable work of acknowledging teachers' contribution in the education sector". He also described the teachers as Chanakya who are capable of creating a Chandragupta in every student.

Shri. Pokhriyal also acknowledged the efforts of HDFC Bank in Nation Building and presented a memento to Ms. Ashima Bhat Group Head, HDFC Bank. Speaking at the event, Ms. Bhat said, "It is the vision of HDFC bank to build an educated and progressive society. The Bank has been actively involved in making a stronger and better India and Sri Aurobindo Society's ZIIEI program has been an incredible partner in this vision of transforming education in India."

Ms. Nusrat Pathan, CSR Head, HDFC Bank and Shri Vikas Wahal, Head Retail Banking, HDFC Bank also marked their presence.

The event was graced by the presence of Shri Prakash Javadekar, the Honourable Minister of Information & Broadcasting focused on improving the access and quality of education and applauded the teachers for their praiseworthy efforts in building a stronger and progressive nation. The honourable minister said, "The society where a teacher is recognized and felicitated is a remarkable one. Innovation is the mother of research. Each innovation is a vision. A nation cannot progress without innovation. It is the sole responsibility of the teachers to create great leaders for tomorrow."

The event was also graced by Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Shri. Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre Honourable Minister of State for HRD, Shri. Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Honourable Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Anurag Thakur, Hon'ble Minister of State for Finance and Shri. Ram Madhav, National General Secretary, Bhartiya Janata Party.

Along with Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Shri J. M Bala Murugun - Principal Secretary to Governor, Punjab and Shri Amrendra Kumar Sengar - Inspector General, NDRF also shared the dice and motivated the teachers.

Overwhelmed with the honest approach of the teachers in the education sector, Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj said, "I hope the teachers continue to contribute towards improving the education system through their noble work. Nation building comes first. Innovative teachers inculcate such moral and human values in their students who play an instrumental role in building a progressive nation."

Shri. Rajender Pensiya - Chief Development Officer, Farrukhabad emphasised on creating a joyful learning atmosphere in the classroom and applauded ZIIEI Innovative Pathshaala, an initiative under ZIIEI that focuses on experiential learning atmosphere in the classroom.

Speaking at the event, Shri. Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Honourable Minister of State for HRD said, "Teachers are not just imparting education but are also elevating their learning experience. Knowledge multiplies when we share. It is the responsibility of every generation to pass on the inherited knowledge, culture and values to the next generation. Through initiatives like ZIIEI, we are succeeding in upgrading the education sector."

Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao Director, IIT Delhi, present at the occasion said, "Innovation is the need of the hour, and as we all need to provide a conducive environment to our students to enable them to become entrepreneurs in life."

Shri. Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Honourable Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises also emphasized on the need and importance of innovation in teaching. The honourable minister, said, "It is an enriching experience to meet more than thousand of innovative teachers. I thank Sri Aurobindo Society for the opportunity. It is important that every individual takes conscious efforts towards building a strong, morally rich society. Teachers are responsible for shaping the future of the children of our country and I congratulate you all for your efforts in transforming education."

Shri Mayank Aggarwal, Chief Operating Officer, Rupantar, Sri Aurobindo Society, said, "ZIIEI has been able to reach out to the teachers to the remotest corners to the urban areas, and teachers have been provided a first of its kind constructive platform to share their zero-investment innovative ideas."

Addressing the teachers at the grand event, Shri Anurag Thakur, Hon'ble Minister of State for Finance said, "India has a young population. We need to provide them good education and inculcate moral values in them. Collected efforts of the teachers and students are changing the face of the nation. The young India is true contributor in building a nation."

Shri Ram Madhav, National General Secretary, BJP said, "Education is an assimilation of character building ideas. Teaching implies right guidance at the right time, not just for the teacher & students but for the entire community." He also appreciated the teachers for their innovations solutions in teaching. Acknowledging the efforts of teachers present at the ceremony, Shri. Ram Madhav also said, "The teachers are making an outstanding contribution in the society by infusing and boosting moral values in the education system."

Calling teachers as the nation's pillars Shri. Hrushikesh Senapaty Director, NCERT, said, "It is a proud moment for the nation, as the teachers are working progressively for creating a innovation based ecosystem."

The event witnessed two engaging discussion sessions wherein speakers from education field shared their experiences and need of grassroot innovations.

Speaking on 'Importance of Micro-Innovation in Perspective of Zero-Investment Innovations' Shri. G.P Upadhyaya, ACS Education, Sikkim, Shri. A. Anbasru, Secretary Education, Puducherry, Shri Sanjay Awasthi, Member Secretary-NCTE, Shri Prashanth Nair, Managing Director of Kerala Shipping & Inland Navigation Corporation collectively called for more and more active participation of the teachers. They said that low/zero-cost replicable practices developed by the teachers and principals have the potential to contribute in improving the quality of education and create foster better learning outcomes in the students. The session was chaired by Mr. Nitin Bhalla, Head, Outreach & Partnerships, Rupantar, Sri Aurobindo Society.

In another set of discussion, based on the topic 'Open Source Innovation & Challenges for it's implementation', Dr. Rajesh Nathani - Advisor to Minister, MHRD, Ms Preeti Hingorani, Vice President, Brand & PR, Cambridge University Press, Shri Narayanan Ramaswami, Partnership Head, Education & Skill Development, KPMG collectively emphasised that shared knowledge and wisdom hold the key for unlocking many education related problems. Thus, platform such as ZIIEI, are providing great opportunity to the teachers to find solutions related to community participation, enrolment, drop-outs etc. This session was shared by Dr. Simmi Mahajan, Head- Quality Assurance, Sri Aurobindo Society, Delhi.

About ZIIEI

Zero-Investment Innovations for Education Initiatives (ZIIEI) has come a long way from its inception. The project is a mass-scale teacher outreach initiative started in 2015 by Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank. Till date around 2 Million teachers have been oriented towards ZIIEI across all the states and union territories of India.

ZIIEI aims to find 'the scattered, isolated and unrecognised, but effective solutions' created by teachers at the grassroot and systematically scale them up to lakhs of schools every year.

In the process, teachers are: Sensitised about the critical need for innovations in the Indian state-run schools; Educated about the potential of innovation that requires zero monetary investment; Encouraged to share such best practices freely with the teaching community; and Recognised grandly for their contribution towards improving the quality of education.

For more information, please visit: https://www.ziiei.com/

About Innovative Pathshaala Zero investment innovations to improve syllabus learning outcomes

Innovative Pathshaala is the innovation guidelines for the teachers based on the existing school curriculum, where they have been converted into evolving Experiential Learning Concept, completely based on ZIIEI ideas. It is an everyday classroom teaching tool created as an extension of the zero-investment innovative ideas presented by the teachers themselves. Till date more than 15 lakh teachers are using Innovative Pathshaala App on their mobile phones on day to day basis.

For more information, please visit: http://rupantar.in/

About Sri Aurobindo Society

Sri Aurobindo Society (SAS) is an international, spiritual, and cultural, not-for-profit global NGO. SAS has been recognised by the Government of India as a Charitable Organisation, a Research Institute and an Institute of Importance throughout India. Rupantar, a dynamic and multidimensional program of Sri Aurobindo Society is dedicated to transform education in schools by harnessing the power of the people and existing resources. 'Zero-Investment Innovations of Education Initiatives' (ZIIEI) is a mass teacher outreach program under Rupantar, that recognises, supports and promotes zero-investment innovations of the teachers.

For more information, please visit: https://aurosociety.org/

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MHRD Minister Promotes Grassroot Teaching Innovations by Felicitating More Than 1000 Teachers From all the State's UT's of India - THE WEEK

NEW DELHI: A national conference and award ceremony was organised recently at Dogra Hall- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi by Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank to recognise the effective grassroots innovations in teaching.

Highlights of the event

* MHRD Minister launched 35 State-wise Innovations Handbooks consisting of best teaching practices and grassroots innovations

* Prakash Javadekar, the Minister of Information & Broadcasting graced the event and motivated the teachers

* Narendra Singh Tomar, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister appreciated the mass-scale teacher outreach program 'Zero-Investment Innovations for Education Initiatives' (ZIIEI) of Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank

* Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Minister of State for HRD boosted the morale of the teachers and felicitated education officers

* Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises graced the occasion

* Anurag Thakur, Minister of State for Finance motivated the teachers at the event

* Ram Madhav, National General Secretary, Bhartiya Janata Party applauded the teachers for their unique teaching innovations at the grass-root level.

Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' felicitated more than 1000 teachers from across the country for their unique zero-investment grassroots innovations in teaching.

The event, named 'SHUNYA SE SASHAKTIKARAN- Empowering Through Zero' highlighted and promoted various zero-investment innovative ideas that are developed and being implemented by the school teachers in their respective schools. 35 state-wise Innovations Handbooks were also launched at the event. These handbooks document the most effective innovations by teachers of different states. The event was organised by Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank to acknowledge the best practices and innovative ideas of the school teachers on March 1st and 2nd 2020, at Dogra Hall- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.

Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Minister MHRD, Dr Satbir Bedi - Chairperson, NCTE, Ashima Bhat - Group Head, HDFC Bank, Ashish Goel - Divisional Commissioner Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Pradeep Narang - Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society, Vijay Poddar - Member Executive, Sri Aurobindo Society along with Sambhrant Sharma- Director, Education, Sri Aurobindo Society felicitated 1,000 innovative teachers and launched 35 Innovation Handbooks.

Addressing the audience and media persons present at the event, Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' emphasised on the need to empower the teachers to upgrade the education sector of the country. He also appreciated and acknowledged the efforts of Sri Aurobindo Society for its dedicated approach in this sector.

"I hope from next year we celebrate this day as the Innovative Teacher's Day. I congratulate Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank for the commendable work of acknowledging teachers' contributions in the education sector", said the MHRD minister. He also described the teachers as Chanakya who are capable of creating a Chandragupta in every student.

Pokhriyal also acknowledged the efforts of HDFC Bank in nation-building and presented a memento to Ashima Bhat - Group Head, HDFC Bank. "It is the vision of HDFC bank to build an educated and progressive society. The bank has been actively involved in making a stronger and better India and Sri Aurobindo Society's ZIIEI program has been an incredible partner in this vision of transforming education in India", said Bhat.

Nusrat Pathan, CSR Head, HDFC Bank and Vikas Wahal, Head Retail Banking, HDFC Bank also marked their presence.

The event was graced by the presence of Prakash Javadekar, who focused on improving the access and quality of education and applauded the teachers for their praiseworthy efforts in building a stronger and progressive nation. "The society where a teacher is recognized and felicitated is a remarkable one. Innovation is the mother of research. Each innovation is a vision. A nation cannot progress without innovation. It is the sole responsibility of the teachers to create great leaders for tomorrow", said the minister.

Along with Narendra Singh Tomar, JM Bala Murugun - Principal Secretary to Governor, Punjab and Amrendra Kumar Sengar - Inspector General, NDRF also shared the dice and motivated the teachers.

"I hope the teachers continue to contribute towards improving the education system through their noble work. Nation-building comes first. Innovative teachers inculcate such moral and human values in their students who play an instrumental role in building a progressive nation", said Narendra Singh Tomar.

Rajender Pensiya - Chief Development Officer, Farrukhabad emphasised on creating a joyful learning atmosphere in the classroom and applauded ZIIEI Innovative Pathshaala, an initiative under ZIIEI that focuses on experiential learning atmosphere in the classroom.

"Teachers are not just imparting education but are also elevating their learning experience. Knowledge multiplies when we share. It is the responsibility of every generation to pass on the inherited knowledge, culture and values to the next generation. Through initiatives like ZIIEI, we are succeeding in upgrading the education sector", said Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre.

"Innovation is the need of the hour, and as we all need to provide a conducive environment to our students to enable them to become entrepreneurs in life", said Prof V Ramgopal Rao - Director, IIT Delhi.

Pratap Chandra Sarangi emphasized on the need and importance of innovation in teaching. "It is an enriching experience to meet more than thousand of innovative teachers. I thank Sri Aurobindo Society for the opportunity. It is important that every individual takes conscious efforts towards building a strong, morally rich society. Teachers are responsible for shaping the future of the children of our country and I congratulate you all for your efforts in transforming education", said Pratap Chandra Sarangi.

"ZIIEI has been able to reach out to the teachers to the remotest corners to the urban areas, and teachers have been provided a first of its kind constructive platform to share their zero-investment innovative ideas", said Mayank Aggarwal, Chief Operating Officer, Rupantar, Sri Aurobindo Society.

"India has a young population. We need to provide them good education and inculcate moral values in them. Collected efforts of the teachers and students are changing the face of the nation. Young India is a true contributor in building a nation", addressed Anurag Thakur.

"Education is an assimilation of character building ideas. Teaching implies right guidance at the right time, not just for the teacher & students but for the entire community", said Ram Madhav.

He also appreciated the teachers for their innovative solutions in teaching. "The teachers are making an outstanding contribution in the society by infusing and boosting moral values in the education system", added Ram Madhav.

"It is a proud moment for the nation, as the teachers are working progressively for creating an innovation-based ecosystem", said Hrushikesh Senapaty - Director, NCERT calling teachers as the nation's pillars.

The event witnessed two engaging discussion sessions wherein speakers from the education field shared their experiences and the need for grass-root innovations.

Speaking on 'Importance of Micro-Innovation in Perspective of Zero-Investment Innovations' GP Upadhyaya, ACS Education, Sikkim, A Anbasru, Secretary Education, Puducherry, Sanjay Awasthi, Member Secretary-NCTE, Prashanth Nair, Managing Director of Kerala Shipping & Inland Navigation Corporation collectively called for more and more active participation of the teachers.

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MHRD minister promotes grassroots teaching innovations - Times of India

(Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.) New Delhi, Delhi, India Business Wire India MHRD Minister promotes grassroot teaching innovations by felicitating more than 1000 teachers from all the States & UTs of India MHRD Minister launched 35 state-wise Innovations Handbooks A National Conference and award ceremony was organised recently at Dogra Hall- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi by Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank to recognise the effective grassroot innovations in teaching. Highlights of the Event Shri. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Honourable Minister, MHRD felicitated more than 1000 Teachers gathered from all that states and union territories of country MHRD Minister launched 35 State-wise Innovations Handbooks consisting of best teaching practices and grassroot innovations Shri. Prakash Javadekar, the Honourable Minister of Information & Broadcasting graced the event and motivated the teachers Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj appreciated the mass-scale teacher outreach program Zero-Investment Innovations For Education Initiatives (ZIIEI) of Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank Shri. Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre Honourable Minister of State for HRD boosted the morale of the teachers and education officers Shri. Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Honourable Minster of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises graced the occasion Shri. Anurag Thakur, Honble Minister of State for Finance motivated the teachers at the event Shri Ram Madhav, National General Secretary, Bhartiya Janata Party applauded the teachers for their unique teaching innovations at grassroot level. Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, honourable Human Resource Development (HRD) minister felicitated more than 1000 teachers from across the country for their unique zero-investment grassroot innovations in teaching. The event, named as SHUNYA SE SASHAKTIKARAN- Empowering Through Zero highlighted and promoted various zero-investment innovative ideas that are developed and being implemented by the school teachers in their respective schools. 35 state-wise Innovations Handbooks were also launched at the event. These handbooks document the most effective innovations by teachers of different states. The event was organised by Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank to acknowledge the best practices and innovative ideas of the school teachers on 01st and 02nd March 2020, at Dogra Hall- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. Honble Minister MHRD- Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Dr. Satbir Bedi Chairperson, NCTE, Ms. Ashima Bhat - Group Head, HDFC Bank, Shri. Ashish Goel - Divisional Commissioner Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Shri. Pradeep Narang - Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society, Shri. Vijay Poddar - Member Executive, Sri Aurobindo Society along with Shri Sambhrant Sharma- Director, Education, Sri Aurobindo Society felicitated 1,000 innovative teachers and launched 35 innovations handbook. Addressing the audience and media persons present at the event, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank emphasised on the need to empower the teachers to upgrade the education sector of the country. He also appreciated and acknowledged the efforts of Sri Aurobindo Society for their dedicated approach in this sector. Speaking at the event, the Honourable MHRD minister said, I hope from next year we celebrate this day as Innovative Teachers Day. I congratulate Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank for the commendable work of acknowledging teachers contribution in the education sector. He also described the teachers as Chanakya who are capable of creating a Chandragupta in every student. Shri. Pokhriyal also acknowledged the efforts of HDFC Bank in Nation Building and presented a memento to Ms. Ashima Bhat Group Head, HDFC Bank. Speaking at the event, Ms. Bhat said, It is the vision of HDFC bank to build an educated and progressive society. The Bank has been actively involved in making a stronger and better India and Sri Aurobindo Societys ZIIEI program has been an incredible partner in this vision of transforming education in India. Ms. Nusrat Pathan, CSR Head, HDFC Bank and Shri Vikas Wahal, Head Retail Banking, HDFC Bank also marked their presence. The event was graced by the presence of Shri Prakash Javadekar, the Honourable Minister of Information & Broadcasting focused on improving the access and quality of education and applauded the teachers for their praiseworthy efforts in building a stronger and progressive nation. The honourable minister said, The society where a teacher is recognized and felicitated is a remarkable one. Innovation is the mother of research. Each innovation is a vision. A nation cannot progress without innovation. It is the sole responsibility of the teachers to create great leaders for tomorrow. The event was also graced by Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Shri. Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre Honourable Minister of State for HRD, Shri. Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Honourable Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Anurag Thakur, Honble Minister of State for Finance and Shri. Ram Madhav, National General Secretary, Bhartiya Janata Party. Along with Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Shri J. M Bala Murugun - Principal Secretary to Governor, Punjab and Shri Amrendra Kumar Sengar - Inspector General, NDRF also shared the dice and motivated the teachers. Overwhelmed with the honest approach of the teachers in the education sector, Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj said, I hope the teachers continue to contribute towards improving the education system through their noble work. Nation building comes first. Innovative teachers inculcate such moral and human values in their students who play an instrumental role in building a progressive nation. Shri. Rajender Pensiya - Chief Development Officer, Farrukhabad emphasised on creating a joyful learning atmosphere in the classroom and applauded ZIIEI Innovative Pathshaala, an initiative under ZIIEI that focuses on experiential learning atmosphere in the classroom. Speaking at the event, Shri. Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Honourable Minister of State for HRD said, Teachers are not just imparting education but are also elevating their learning experience. Knowledge multiplies when we share. It is the responsibility of every generation to pass on the inherited knowledge, culture and values to the next generation. Through initiatives like ZIIEI, we are succeeding in upgrading the education sector. Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao Director, IIT Delhi, present at the occasion, said that innovations is the need of the hour, and as we all need to provide a conducive environment to our students to enable them to become entrepreneurs in life. Shri. Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Honourable Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises also emphasized on the need and importance of innovation in teaching. The honourable minister said, It is an enriching experience to meet more than thousand of innovative teachers. I thank Sri Aurobindo Society for the opportunity. It is important that every individual takes conscious efforts towards building a strong, morally rich society. Teachers are responsible for shaping the future of the children of our country and I congratulate you all for your efforts in transforming education. Shri Mayank Aggarwal, Chief Operating Officer, Rupantar, Sri Aurobindo Society, said that ZIIEI has been able to reach out to the teachers to the remotest corners to the urban areas, and teachers have been provided a first of its kind constructive platform to share their zero-investment innovative ideas. Addressing the teachers at the grand event, Shri Anurag Thakur, Honble Minister of State for Finance said, India has a young population. We need to provide them good education and inculcate moral values in them. Collected efforts of the teachers and students are changing the face of the nation. The young India is true contributor in building a nation. Shri Ram Madhav, National General Secretary, BJP said, Education is an assimilation of character building ideas. Teaching implies right guidance at the right time, not just for the teacher & students but for the entire community. He also appreciated the teachers for their innovations solutions in teaching. Acknowledging the efforts of teachers present at the ceremony, Shri. Ram Madhav also said, The teachers are making an outstanding contribution in the society by infusing and boosting moral values in the education system. Calling teachers as nations pillars Shri. Hrushikesh Senapaty Director, NCERT said that is it a proud moment for the nation, as the teachers are working progressively for creating a innovation based ecosystem. The event witnessed two engaging discussion sessions wherein speakers from education field shared their experiences and need of grassroot innovations. Speaking on Importance of Micro-Innovation in Perspective of Zero-Investment Innovations Shri. G.P Upadhyaya, ACS Education, Sikkim, Shri. A. Anbasru, Secretary Education, Puducherry, Shri Sanjay Awasthi, Member Secretary-NCTE, Shri Prashanth Nair, Managing Director of Kerala Shipping & Inland Navigation Corporation collectively called for more and more active participation of the teachers. They said that low/zero-cost replicable practices developed by the teachers and principals have the potential to contribute in improving the quality of education and create foster better learning outcomes in the students. The session was chaired by Mr. Nitin Bhalla, Head, Outreach & Partnerships, Rupantar, Sri Aurobindo Society. In another set of discussion, based on the topic Open Source Innovation & Challenges for its implementation, Dr. Rajesh Nathani - Advisor to Minister, MHRD, Ms Preeti Hingorani, Vice President, Brand & PR, Cambridge University Press, Shri Narayanan Ramaswami, Partnership Head, Education & Skill Development, KPMG collectively emphasised that shared knowledge and wisdom hold the key for unlocking many education related problems. Thus, platform such as ZIIEI, are providing great opportunity to the teachers to find solutions related to community participation, enrolment, drop-outs etc. This session was shared by Dr. Simmi Mahajan, Head- Quality Assurance, Sri Aurobindo Society, Delhi. ZIIEI Zero-Investment Innovations for Education Initiatives (ZIIEI) has come a long way from its inception. The project is a mass-scale teacher outreach initiative started in 2015 by Sri Aurobindo Society and HDFC Bank. Till date around 2 Million teachers have been oriented towards ZIIEI across all the states and union territories of India. ZIIEI aims to find the scattered, isolated and unrecognised, but effective solutions created by teachers at the grassroot and systematically scale them up to lakhs of schools every year. In the process, teachers are: Sensitised about the critical need for innovations in the Indian state-run schools; Educated about the potential of innovation that requires zero monetary investment; Encouraged to share such best practices freely with the teaching community; and Recognised grandly for their contribution towards improving the quality of education. About Innovative Pathshaala Zero investment innovations to improve syllabus learning outcomes Innovative Pathshaala is the innovation guidelines for the teachers based on the existing school curriculum, where they have been converted into evolving Experiential Learning Concept, completely based on ZIIEI ideas. It is an everyday classroom teaching tool created as an extension of the zero-investment innovative ideas presented by the teachers themselves. Till date more than 15 lakh teachers are using Innovative Pathshaala App on their mobile phones on day to day basis. To View the Image Click on the Link Below: (L-R) Mr. Vijay Poddar - Member Executive, Sri Aurobindo Society; Ms. Ashima Bhat - Group Head, HDFC Bank; Mr. Ramesh Pokhriyal ''Nishank'' Honourable Minister, MHRD; Mr. Pradeep Narang - Chairman, Sri Aurobindo Society; Dr. Satbir Bedi Chairperson, NCTE felicitated 1,000 innovative teachers and launched 35 Innovations Handbook PWR PWR Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: PTI More from Outlook Magazine

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A Power-Packed National Conference and National Award Ceremony for Innovative Teachers - Outlook India